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University opens new turbomachinery lab

On Tuesday, nearly two years after breaking ground at Ignition Park, the University, partnered with the City of South Bend, Great Lakes Capital, the state of Indiana and Indiana Michigan Power, hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the $36 million Notre Dame Turbomachinery Laboratory (NDTL), according to a press release.

The lab, which will focus on studying aerodynamics, thermodynamics and structural mechanics of parts of large rotating machines, opened Tuesday, according to the release.

Vice president for research Robert Bernhard said the facility gives researchers a unique capability.

“We can work in a research and development space no one else works in,” Bernhard said in the release. “It will help us draw the best faculty and graduate students to Notre Dame while providing valuable data to our business partners about their technology and equipment.”

At the helm of NDTL are Joshua Cameron, research assistant professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering and director of the new laboratory, and Scott Morris, professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering and the lab’s new research director, according to the release.

Additionally, the release stated the new lab currently employs 37 people with plans to continue to expand — a significant increase from the 10 previously employed by the turbomachinery facility operated by the University on campus.

The lab is partially co-sponsored by General Electric Co., and has engaged in conversation with previous sponsors and collaborators Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce, Honeywell, Siemens, ANSYS, Inc., NASA and the Air Force Research Lab about future partnerships.